While many are familiar with the term “starving artist,” this stereotype of impoverished artists struggling to get by has been sadly true throughout much of history.
BY TAWANDA TADERERA
Fine art painters and metal sculptors, in particular, are infamous for leading poverty and grief-stricken lives.
Artists, writers and musicians can all fall into this unfortunate phenomenon, robbing them of the credit they deserve for their genius.
Other people are getting popular at the expense of others even in music promoters get rich at the expense of the musicians.
Mbare-born, Raymond Chataira, a metal sculptor has never enjoyed the glitz and glamour of showbiz life despite his great art work.
Speaking to The Standard Style on Wednesday, Chataira said “middlemen” in the arts sector were reaping where they never sowed by selling the sculptures as their own, leaving behind the sculptors.
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“We are facing a big challenge whereby ‘clients’ buy from us in bulk and they re-sell these products as theirs,” he said.
Chataira is the brains behind the metal sculptures at Trek Service Stations.
“Trek company has become one of my biggest clients who buy metal sculptures for their service stations,” he said. He the fuel company is working as his “advertising agent”, displaying his work.
“Another challenge is our area where operate from. You know Mbare is always associated with those societal ills, so it is difficult for clients to trust you and do a business deal with you,” he said.
Chataira started art at a tender age in primary school where he would use clay to moulded cattle until a time he fell in love with metal sculpture.
He said he was inspired by Adam Madebe, who has a number of sculptures which include a monumental set of three workers displayed at Construction House in Harare which was erected in 1992.
In 2004, Chataira tried painting as a pasttime after completing school and a year later he went to Chinembiri Arts Centre in Mbare to do a welding course.
“I started by doing small birds from scrap metal up until 2007 when I crafted big animals. My first big animal was an elephant, which was exported to South Africa,” he said.
He said his second piece was bought by former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono and said Ignatius Chombo’s wife was his regular client.
Even though many prominent people, including Cabinet ministers bought Chataira’s sculptures, no one is willing to assist him.
“There are certain people who come to you and promise that they can help you and after that, you will never get in touch with them,” he said.
Artists have a passion for something that can make a difference in people’s lives and some of them do their work with passion.
“When we craft our work, we made it out of feelings. When I feel like I want to work on an eland, I work on that even though there are orders from clients, I have to put them aside,” he said.
However, he said they were failing to get opportunities to showcase their work at exhibitions of a higher magnitude. He said their area of operation, Mbare, was not doing them any favour because very few people visit the place.
“Plastics are not only the ones that can be recycled, even metals can be recycled. For example, scrap metal from cars can be turned into magnificient pieces of art,” he said.
“I haven’t achieved what I wanted in life because of the economic hardships in Zimbabwe. I might produce a fine sculpture, but the price which people want to pay is too little.
“Art takes a long way in achieving your goal, at first when I was directed to make a lion I would say I am not able to make it but as time goes on I am now able to make anything.”
Chataira makes all types of animals ranging from elephants, antelopes, giraffes, rhinos, wild dogs and cheetahs, among others.
